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Thea Jones
Hairdressing Level 2, Theatrical & Media Make-up Level 3
2014-2017
Hair and Makeup Junior
I would say to anyone wanting to start a career in Hair and Makeup within the Film and Television industry if you are serious and committed to it then go for it! It is an extremely competitive and fast paced environment but if you are willing to put the work in you will be able to do some amazing projects, travel and progress artistically.
Thea knew she wanted to be a make-up artist from a very young age and began her journey at Lancaster & Morecambe College. She started with Hairdressing Level 2 and worked her way up to Hair & Media Make-up Level 3.
From the age of 13, Thea attended a film charity in Barrow called Signal Film and Media. There, she created short films and earned qualifications in filmmaking through the BFI Film Academy. This experience allowed her to broaden her understanding of the industry. She also participated in a casualty make-up simulation group to enhance her skills.
When I left high school I decided to go to LMC as when I was looking into colleges the Hairdressing training was the best in the area and I knew I needed these skills for my chosen path. I then completed two years of hair training gaining my diploma and NVQ 2 In Women’s Hairdressing. I then progressed to LV3 Media Makeup. My Tutor Tracie helped me so much at the beginning of my journey, I'm really thankful for her help.
With the skills and knowledge she gained from College, Thea secured a job working on an ITV drama a year after leaving College. She then further developed her skills with The Iver Makeup Academy, an industry specific makeup school inside the famous Pinewood studios.
I was accepted onto Screenskills High End TV Trainee Finder, a scheme that is set up to help people from different backgrounds get a start in the industry, but of course literally a couple of days after getting onto the programme the first lockdown was announced and I spent the next year working as a key worker at Tesco! But as soon as I could get back out there, I was off!
After facing a major setback, Thea felt more certain that this was the right path for her and has now worked on dozens of film sets, creating iconic looks for characters.
My first job back in the industry was on the hit Netflix series ‘Heartstopper’. After that I jumped onto another Netflix Show ‘Half Bad’. I then went onto the BBC comedy ‘Ghosts’ and here I really started to build my confidence. I immediately went onto ‘The Union’ another Netflix film.
Thea got offered the opportunity to work on the final series of 'The Crown', where she was able to learn from her talented co-workers the art of period styles.
It was the most amazing and surreal experience, 9 months of visiting every stately home in the country and also a quick wig drop off in Palma de Mallorca. I learned from some of the most talented women in the industry the art of period styling, wig setting and dressing. Most importantly I learned how to set and dress a Queen wig making up the Queen’s picture double and I set a drag style wig that we had also created.
Thea's advice for anyone thinking of a career within the Hair & Media Make- up industry is:
I would say to anyone wanting to start a career in Hair and Makeup within the Film and Television industry, if you are serious and committed to it then go for it! It is an extremely competitive and fast paced environment but if you are willing to put in the work you will be able to do some amazing projects, travel and progress artistically.
YOUR TUTOR(S)
I really enjoy being part of the LMC Beauty Team and working within the department. Watching my students grow and develop their ideas and skillsets week on week is a really exciting part of my role, particularly when I can see them challenging themselves to get creative and try out new and different ideas.
The most satisfying part of my job role is inspiring students to have the confidence to become beauty therapists and work in their dream careers.
My favourite part of this role is working with such an amazing team here at Lancaster & Morecambe College, and also being able to pass on my industry knowledge to all my students and support them in their journey to becoming a Beauty Therapist.
I would say come to College, study Beauty Therapy, be pampered, pamper clients, but be prepared to work hard for the qualifications to get far in the industry. It's a very rewarding career to go into, putting smiles on clients faces and giving them a new found confidence.
ALUMNI
Thea Jones
Kelly Murgatroyd
